Ozymandias
By Percy Shelley
Pre-reading
What is your greatest achievement in your life so far?
What would you like people to remember about you in the future?
How can you leave a legacy for the future?
Who Was He?
Ramesses II was called Ozymandias by the Greeks.
The early part of his reign was focused on building cities, temples and monuments. He established the city of Pi-Ramesses in the Nile Delta
By the time of his death, aged about 90, years he had made Egypt rich from all the supplies and riches he had collected from other empires.
bare
boundless �
decay
(to) despair �
frown �
mighty �
mocked - to mock �
passions �
pedestal �
remains �
shattered �
sneer
stamped �
trunkless �
wreck �
wrinkled �
bare�
boundless �
decay
(to) despair �
frown �
mighty �
mocked - to mock �
passions �
pedestal �
remains �
shattered �
sneer �
stamped �
trunkless �
wreck �
wrinkled �
Ozymandias
By Percy Bysshe Shelley
I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
Irony
This poem is based on irony.
Definition:
The use of irony in literature refers to playing around with words such that the meaning implied by a sentence or word is actually different from the literal meaning. Often irony is used to suggest the stark contrast of the literal meaning being put forth. The deeper, real layer of significance is revealed not by the words themselves but the situation and the context in which they are placed.
Irony
It is ironic because none of the king's achievements have actually survived
What is ironic about the boast inscribed on the pedestal?
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!' "
4. What words tell us that the poet had not personally witnessed the scene he is describing.
5. What is the theme of the Octave?
6. What is the theme of the sestet?
Bridging Text and Context
1. Can you think of any modern day leader who “fits the bill” of this poem.
2. Does this poem remind you of anything you have seen in your own experience? Explain your response.
3. Which leaders would you want to read this poem?
Post Reading Activity
This statue, however, does not have "two vast and trunkless legs of stone", nor does it have a "shattered visage" with a "frown, wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command."
In fact, all statues of Egyptian kings have a uniform expression of serene benevolence.
Nor does the base of the statue at Thebes have any inscription, although Ramesses's cartouche is inscribed on the statue itself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozymandias
Post Reading Activity
Knowing the facts, does this change how you feel about the poem?
Write a formal letter to Percy Shelly explaining how you feel about his misrepresentation of the facts.
Audio Description of Statue
Percy Bysshe Shelley
English Romantic Poet